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Personal Injury Blog

Will a Dog Be Euthanized After a Dog Bite Incident?

Thursday, July 20, 2017

Dog attacks are traumatic incidents, but even so, many victims after a dog attack don't want the dog to be euthanized. They are animals, after all, and likely it is the conduct of their owner that resulted in the attack and not an issue of the dog or dog breed itself. While owners are held liable for the financial burden of the attack, does the dog have to be euthanized after it bites someone?

The quick answer is no. There are some cases, usually in particularly vicious dog attacks, where the dog will be labeled by the court as "potentially dangerous" or "vicious" and it will need to be detained and potentially euthanized. However, not only does the owner have some recourse, but a few words from the victim can go a long way to saving a dog's life.

In court, the victim can advise their attorney that they want to save the dog, which will prevent their attorney from contacting animal control. Victims can also say a few words to the judge stating that they don't want the dog to be destroyed, and that is taken heavily into consideration. Even in vicious dog attacks, if the dog has displayed no other signs of aggression, the victim may be able to see that it lives, but is forced to go into dog training or taken away from its owner to ensure that a dog attack never happens again.

If you are a dog lover, a dog attack can be especially hurtful since the myth that dogs will be euthanized after just one bite is a widespread one. However, you shouldn't just shoulder the medical bills yourself in order to try and save the dog. If you have been attacked, contact us today to see what the Law Offices of Freeman & Freeman can do for you.